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TOP STORIES FOR
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2002
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$5,000 Reward Offered In Drumwright Murder |
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Beta Sigma Phi Sorority of McKenzie, in conjunction with
the Tennessee Governor's Reward Fund and Crime Stoppers
Reward Fund, is offering a reward of $5000 for
information leading to the arrest and conviction of the
person responsible for the shooting death of Tony
Drumwright on August 25, 1999.
Tony's life was cut short at the place he felt most
loved, comfortable and secure - at his home. The
fifteen-year-old was found in the back yard of his rural
McKenzie home with a gunshot wound to the head.
There are blue ribbons placed throughout the McKenzie
community to help bring awareness to the community that
the killer of Tony Drumwright has not been brought to
justice and to signify that those who loved Tony are
agonized every day by his tragic death. It is also a
desperate plea for anyone remotely connected to the case
to come forward with information. A "Friends of Tony"
group is spearheading the effort.
Those wishing to contribute to the reward fund, may send
their donation to: The Tony Drumwright Reward Fund, c/o
Carroll Bank & Trust Company, 14950 Highland Drive,
McKenzie, TN 38201.
Persons with information regarding the investigation may
remain anonymous and are asked to please contact the
Carroll County Sheriff's Department, Investigator David
Bunn @986-8947, or Investigator Brian Bryd at the
Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (T.B.I.) at
1-800-TBI-FIND(824-3463), or your local police.
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WHDM Radio to Return to the Air |
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Radio Station WHDM is expected to return to the air on
March 1, according to new owner Gary Benton, president
of WHDM broadcasting. The station has been silent for
almost one year after former owner Bruce Cox and
associates took the station off the air after the
station suffered financial difficulties. Benton
purchased the station from Cox and associates.
According to a press release, WHDM will provide a strong
local news program covering both McKenzie and Carroll
County happenings and high school sports. Station
management plans to be involved in the community. John
Kent, a veteran broadcaster with more than forty years
in the broadcast industry, has been named station
manager. Kent will be the station's most visible
personality in the community, said Benton.
Kent has broadcast McKenzie High School football for the
previous two years and covered news from McKenzie City
Council, McKenzie Planning Commission, and McKenzie
School Board for the past 1.5 years on sister station
WMUF-FM 104.7.
The station plans to be part of many community
activities. The level of involvement will depend on the
amount of support provided by advertisers for the
station, said Benton. "We want to do many things, but we
have to crawl before we run," said the owner. "And it
will take awhile since we are starting with no revenue."
The station's transmitter has been rebuilt to increase
its effectiveness. The engineer said the station had
previously been operating at less than half of its
original power for a number of years.
"I think you (the listener) will like the difference in
the sound and in the distance the signal will carry,"
said Benton.
John Kent first started in broadcasting at WHDM in 1957
following his graduation from high school. He was a
staff announcer when the station was in the basement of
the old McKenzie Hotel, located on the northeast corner
of the downtown square, where the McKenzie Banking
Company is now located. Kent has broadcast more than
4,100 games. He noted the 2002 MHS football games will
be broadcast on both WHDM 1440 AM and WMUF 104.7 FM to
give broader coverage.
WHDM first began broadcasting in the middle 1950s under
the ownership of Mike and Ellen Freeland. The station
was later sold to Earl and Gladys Nolting in 1957. Other
owners through the years include Bill Pope, Ed Perkins,
Bill Schweitzer, and Dick Bennett. The call letters WHDM
stand for Huntingdon, Dresden, McKenzie and the "W" is a
designation for stations generally east of the
Mississippi River. The call letters will remain to honor
the station's heritage.
WHDM will be an affiliate of ABC Radio Network. Persons
wishing to have community service announcements
broadcast may fax them to WHDM at 731-644-9970 or mail
them to WHDM, 110 India Road, Paris 38242.
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Accident Near Henry Claims Life of Pregnant Woman and
Child |
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By
Bill
McCutcheon
Courtesy of Paris Post-Intelligencer |
A 27-year-old mother and her unborn child died Thursday
afternoon in a head-on collision involving three
vehicles south of Henry.
One of Daria Ferguson's other four children, all in the
van, which she was driving, died Thursday night at
Vanderbilt Medical Center in Nashville. Mrs. Ferguson,
wife of Mike Ferguson of 90 Union Friendship Road off
Henry-Midway Road northwest of Henry, was seven months
pregnant.
A Vanderbilt spokesman confirmed that Christina
Ferguson, 7, had died about 10:30 p.m. Thursday.
Kelsey Ferguson, 11, was initially listed in critical
condition, but has since been upgraded to stable
condition and has been moved to a regular room at
Vanderbilt Hospital. Charity Ferguson, 9, was released
from Vanderbilt Hospital on Saturday.
Also flown to Vanderbilt was Casey Crosser, 31, of 6825
Highway 79southwest of Paris. Mr. Crosser underwent
orthopedic surgery Friday and was discharged from the
hospital Monday, according to a hospital spokeswoman.
Admitted to Henry County Medical Center were Arial
Glover, 12, the fourth child in the Ferguson van, and
William Jerry Gilliam, 66 of McKenzie (Christmasville
Community), driver of a pickup truck also involved in
the crash. Both have since been released from the
hospital.
Mr. Gilliam's wife said Monday he was discharged from
the hospital Friday and is in fair condition. She said
he sustained severe contusions to the head, chest and
hip, as well as lacerations and contusions to the leg.
Mr. Gilliam is the brother of Trezevant Mayor James
Gilliam.
Personnel from the HCMC Emergency Medical Services,
Methodist Hospital of McKenzie's EMS, Henry Volunteer
Fire Department, Paris-Henry County Rescue Squad, Henry
Police Department and Henry County Sheriff's Department
were called to the scene.
First to arrive was Henry Police Sgt. Phil Brodell. He
immediately called for more than one ambulance. At one
point, there were at least a half-dozen ambulances
there, including one from Gibson County that was
northbound on a routine transport, but stopped to
assist.
Trooper Monte Belew was in charge of the investigation,
but was assisted by Trooper Mike Smothers. Sgt. Warren
Rainey and Lt. Robert Melton of the Tennessee Highway
Patrol.
Belew said the crash occurred about 3 p.m. Thursday on
the new portion of Highway 79, just southeast of Henry.
He said the initial investigation indicated the Crosser
vehicle was northbound and crossed the centerline,
striking the southbound Ferguson van almost head-on.
Both vehicles were spun around by the impact with the
Ferguson van ending up on the shoulder of the southbound
lane. Crosser's vehicle, however, was then hit broadside
by Gilliam's pickup truck.
Belew said all seven people involved in the wreck were
wearing their seat belts and the air bags in all three
vehicles deployed. The trooper also said there was no
alcohol involved in any of the three.
However, charges are pending further investigation.
Joint funeral services for Daria and Christina Ferguson
were held Tuesday at 11 a.m. at Ridgeway Funeral Home
with burial in Olive Branch Cemetery. |
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Phone (731) 352-3323 or
Fax (731) 352-3322
washburn@mckenziebanner.com
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